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TR2/3/3A New 1957 TR3a in the family

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apbos

apbos

Jedi Knight
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My brother and I picked this up a few days ago. # TS21115 Its rough and an ex racer minus front fenders and with dented inners, but the frame is straight.
2863292807_dd52b5e2db.jpg
We are doing a further assement of her this evening. We are going to need some front fenders! I'll fill you all in later. Anyone have a source for some used TR3a body parts?

Paul
 
Thanks for the pic - good luck with her. Sorry, no leads on body parts for you. I've seen Tr3 fenders come up on eBay recently however...
 
Not that it makes any difference but the 3A was not introduced with the wide mouth until Commission number TS22014. The front apron appears to be held on by two very strong pieces of bungie cord. Be very kind to the car and dig a deep hole to give it a decent burial.

Lou Metelko
Auburn, Indiana
 
Really, Lou...later TR3s are cars, too!
grin.gif


But I agree that this just might not be what it appears. I see also outside door handles, which would be unusual on a "true" small-mouth TR3 unless it originally had the quite rare GT kit (which included hardtop).

Are you sure that's the commission number? How does it correlate to the other numbers (embossed brass plates above the battery box)? Of course, having been a racer, and already "sporting" a wide mouth apron in front of dented inner fenders (oh, do they have holes behind where the parking lamps would be, or indentations, and are there indentations on the inner fenders behind where the headlamp pods are?), I suspect it's led a very hard life. And what's it got for a rear apron and what lights are where on same (assuming THAT'S anywhere near original at this point)?

But hey, if the chassis is straight and the body tub is pretty straight and solid, it could be a fun "builder" of a car!
 
Sorry guys (my bad) TS28115 Still out here working on it. It's a nice night, seems our summer heat is finally ending.

Paul
 
Hey, Paul -

28115 would put it as built in early '58.

Mickey
 
My 1958 TR3A was born on Valentine's day, Feb. 14th 1958. My TS Comm. No. is TS 27489 LO.

Don Elliott, Original Owner
 

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Mickey
My earlier research got me to Dec of 57. About 3600 TR3As were built in 1957 from 22014-25632. I guess she is kind of special. Were making a short list of required items for the body work and will start with that and the frame first then move to the motor and accessories as we get further along. There is not an outside panel that does not have a dent but since this is a CA car the is not much rust.

Paul
 
A quick question. If and I repeat IF we were to return this car back into a racer. How would you rate fiberglass front fender replacements for future track use?
 
There is a guy in CT that I know who has a garage full of mostly new, but some used TR3 parts that he had for what was to be a full frame off on his 1956 TR3.

Then he drove a BMW Z-4, fell in love, went to a very dark side, some guy from NY bought the TR3, less the parts, had it towed back to a shop in NY for full frame off and there they sit.

If you are interested, I can let him know. He has fiberglass fenders but tons of other parts from pistons to weatherstrips.
 
Paul
You have a pm.
Paul
 
apbos said:
Mickey
My earlier research got me to Dec of 57. About 3600 TR3As were built in 1957 from 22014-25632. I guess she is kind of special. Were making a short list of required items for the body work and will start with that and the frame first then move to the motor and accessories as we get further along. There is not an outside panel that does not have a dent but since this is a CA car the is not much rust.

Paul
Click to expand...

Don't know, Paul. I got my information from Piggott's book, <span style="font-style: italic"> Original Triumph TR3 </span> considered the "bible" for these things. And Don's info on his car bears that out.

Still, even in Piggott's words, the numbering system back then left a lot to be desired...
 
apbos said:
About 3600 TR3As were built in 1957 from 22014-25632.
Click to expand...
Which would make 28115 almost 2500 cars into 1958, no?
 
Mickey
We know there is only one way to find out exactly, the "BHC". It will cost some $ but I think at some point we will go that route as we get near the point of doing the interior and paint (which I think was white with red trim). Sould be fun though.

Regards
Paul
 
True! The numbers came from an unoffical quote from one of our local LBC owners and was his best guess. He really knows alot about these cars. It's been a long day. This old Cow Doc is hitting the hay, before he has to get up in the early am for another round of early morning calls

Paul
 
Paul,

You're amazing!Where do you find the time
to get/work on all of these cool cars?

- doug
 
The San Joaquin Valley has a hot dry climate. On Amtrac from Stockton to Fresno, I saw a field of VWs, at least 200 of them, just sitting there, a little south of Modesto.

There are barn finds all over the place here, and orchard finds and vinyard finds.
 
apbos said:
A quick question. If and I repeat IF we were to return this car back into a racer. How would you rate fiberglass front fender replacements for future track use?
Click to expand...

Check the rules of the club in which you will be racing.

My friend bought a Spitfire that was raced in VARA, which I think is in Southern California, that ran with a fibreglass bonnet. However, he had to replace the bonnet with a steel one to run in SVRA and VRG, which are back here in the east.
 
apbos said:
Mickey
We know there is only one way to find out exactly, the "BHC". It will cost some $ but I think at some point we will go that route as we get near the point of doing the interior and paint (which I think was white with red trim). Sould be fun though.
Click to expand...

No one here pays any attention to me when I suggest this, but here it is anyway:

Save some money and get a Build Record from Triumph Register of America. $20 and gives about the same info as a BHC, only not so fancy looking.
 
John
Never knew you could get a Build Record from TRA. It's the info that matters the most to us!

Thanks
Paul
 
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